FAQs

Q?

Book Direct to Save $$$!

A.

Book direct to save! Booking on websites such as Airbnb, Homeaway, VRBO, Booking.com, and TripAdvisor is possible, but each of these sites adds fees to the booking. Booking direct can save you 10%--30% compared to these VR marketing sites! Not only that, you can book direct with these guarantees:

Book with confidence! We provide you, for free, accidental damage insurance covering $500 worth of damage! If you want, you can purchase additional damage protection of another $1000 for only $10!

Trip protection insurance! For a nominal cost, you can protect your vacation from cancellation costs due to sickness, injury or death; weather causing delay of travel; auto accidents; job layoffs; trip delays and more! See Travel Insurance FAQs and Travel Insurance Coverage for more details.

100% refund available! Book with confidence! If you change your mind, you can cancel for a full refund within 48 hours of booking, or 60 days before the rental date. A 50% refund is available within 30 days of the rental date. And, if we cancel for any reason, you will get a full refund. (Note: we've never cancelled in over 10 years, the only likely reason we would cancel is if there was damage making the property unrentable.)

Direct access to the owner! Unlike on the VR marketing sites, booking direct allows you easy access to the property owner (that's me, Dottie Natal!) You also have access to my email, phone number, and text message number. You also have direct access to my local property manager who can help you with any issues that arise while you are staying.

Q?

Kitchen –where do I find (or put away) items?

A.

There are approximately 60 place settings available, plus all the cooking items you'll need, and they all fit nicely! But...Some renters, for whatever reason, "reorganize" and move things. So we have provided a reference page with pictures of the cupboards and drawers so you can see where things are and where they will fit when you put them away. Thanks for keeping things organized!

Q?

Can we have a wedding at the cabin?

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Yes, yes, yes!!! We LOVE weddings! We just posted pictures from a wedding in June 2016. See the post "Weddings!"

Picture Updates

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Latest Cabin Updates/Upgrades

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Q?

Do you have baby/toddler supplies?

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Yes, at the suggestion of upcoming guests flying in we have just added several of the bulkier items that are needed so guests don't have to carry a lot of stuff on the plane. We now have:

Two folding strollers;

Two folding Pack N Plays;

Two infant/small child booster seats with food trays;

Two booster seats (with seat belts) for toddlers;

Three door gates (to be used at the top and bottom of the stairs and the front or back door, as needed.)

Please do let us know before your stay if there are additional items you would like to have at the cabin for your little ones. Please wash (disinfect all parts) and store the items before you leave.
Update June 4, 2015: we installed brackets for the gates at the top and bottom of the stairs (living room) and on the upstairs back deck. Gates could also be used in any doorway. Probably you understand how to use these better than I do, but they are a bit tricky. Essentially, do this: (1) make sure the lock mechanism is in the "unlock" (up) position, and slide the gate open to the size of the opening. (2) Place it into the brackets (or the doorway) so that it fits, but not too snug (we'll tighten in the next step.) If you are placing at the top of the stairs, note that we cut a grove/bracket into the wood at the sides, so first line up the top brackets, slide the gate down, then press it forward towards the stairs into the groove. (3) Tighten and lock the gate by pulling the lock lever down into the hole and lock it in place. At this point it would be very difficult for a baby or toddler (or your smart puppy) to open the gate. It is also so tight that it cannot be accidentally knocked over. (The draw back is you have to remove it if you want to use the stairs yourself.) Of course, test the fit when you are done and use common sense; we're not there so we don't know if the gate has been damaged in any way that makes it unfit, so it's on you to check it.

Please DO:

report any problems with any of the baby gear so we can make sure it stays in good repair

Clean everything when done with it

Put it away in the closet in the handicap accessible master bedroom

Report to us if you broke something so we know to replace it BEFORE the next guest with babies arrive (it may not be noticed for some time, so please, do report)

Q?

How many bathtubs and showers?

A.

You'll be happy to hear that the cabin features a "hot water on demand" system, so there is always hot water for everyone! There is a bathtub/shower combo in bathroom 1, a Jacuzzi bath in bathroom 2, a roll-in shower with hand shower head for full handicap access in bathroom 2, a generous size shower in the downstairs hall bathroom, and a bathtub/shower unit in the Granny bedroom's bathroom. The hot water on demand system is configured to make it possible for multiple showers to happen at the same time. Enjoy!

Is the cabin available for my dates?

A.

Q?

How do I book the cabin?

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Q?

What are the sleeping arrangements?

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Upstairs are two master bedrooms with King beds, so you can sleep two in each bed and one on a roll-away in each room, giving sleeping for 2 to 6, depending on how you do it (these are large bedrooms.) Downstairs there is a granny quarter with a queen bed and queen futon (2 to 4 sleepers), a bunk room with four twin over full beds (4 or 8 sleepers) and the meeting room/Queens bedroom (0 to 6 sleepers.)

In addition, we have roll-away beds plus three twin size mattresses in the living room and den that are used as seating but also can be used as sleeping spaces. There are also two couches which fold down for sleeping. The "man cave" isn't appropriate for sleeping as there is no window for fire escape.

This cabin was designed to accommodate extended family groups and church groups. Typically, the bunk room is used to sleep all the "boys" and the Queen's room the "girls", with parents in the various master bedrooms.

Altogether there are:

Two California King beds

Three Queen Beds

Two Queen futons

Four Full beds

Seven Twin beds (four are the top bunks of bunk beds)

Three fold-out couches (Full)

Five cots (Twin)

Please look at the floorplans for more details on sleeping arrangements.

Q?

Can you tell me about the workshop/meeting room?

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The meeting room is downstairs: it is 27.5 feet by 19 feet. It holds up to 30 people in folding chairs with the tables (though the house will not sleep that many people.) We provide padded folding chairs and tables.

Some tables are individual and some are for two people. The room has a sink and storage and good electrical outlets and lights, so you can do any sort of workshop there, from art, to sewing, to computers. It has two queen beds and a queen futon which can be folded up for meetings.

Alternatively the beds can be left up and the tables and chairs set up in the remaining area, which would be sufficient for about 18 people (giving a space of about 20 feet by 19 feet for the group.) Honestly a lot of our groups that meet there also use the living room for meetings as it will seat about 11 on the seating in there and you can bring in chairs and tables for the remainder, or use the living room and den which are adjacent.

Q?

Linens?

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Linen service (sheets, pillow cases, towels) is included in the cleaning/linen fee. Your beds will be made up before you arrive, with these exceptions: the queen futons in the Queen's room, the top bunks in the bunk room. Extra sheets are provided for these beds. We don't make them because hardly anyone staying actually uses those beds, given the large number of other beds, so making them, stripping them and washing the sheets is not every environmental if they don't get used.

There is a washer and dryer here if you want to wash any of the linens while you are staying or need to do a load of dirty towels. No need to wash the linens before you go, that cost was covered in the cleaning/linen fee.

Is there cable TV? Netflix? Amazon Prime video?

A.

In the den there is a Roku streaming player for watching Netflix, Amazon Prime (both are active accounts on this box) and a variety of other movie, music and game "stations." Same for the Man Cave.

The house has wi-fi throughout so you can stay connected.

Please DON'T disconnect TVs and DVD's, and DON'T mess with wiring or settings--we get so tired of trying to put things back in order after someone messes with it! There are plenty of inputs for viewing your cameras, phones and computers, you really do not need to mess with our wiring. Thanks!

Q?

Is there wi-fi?

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Of course! We have wi-fi throughout the house, and on the decks, too. We provide instructions on how to turn it off, too, if you want a "disconnected" vacation.

Q?

Is this a rustic cabin?

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Well, not really, it is more "high tech" than "rustic." However, being in the mountains, there are some rustic aspects to your stay that a city-slicker might not expect:

There are spiders. Lots of spiders. The spiders inhabit the mountain areas and they sometimes get into the house, especially if you leave open doors and windows. So, no matter how well the cleaners do their jobs, there might be some "cobwebs" here or there (especially on the porches) and perhaps some spiders hiding out. The mountain air has "stuff" in it--lots of dirt and pine pollen--so webs that were spun this morning can be cobwebby by this afternoon.

The power might go out. Or phone or cable might go out. Some snow or wind or pine trees may have knocked out a line. These things happen! It's just part of mountain living and we can't offer refunds if it happens while you stay (though, of course if it happens before you arrive we'll give you a call so you can cancel if you wish.) The utility company will work as quickly as they can to restore service, but you might be heating by wood stove, or dining by candlelight. Or not have cable or wi-fi for a little while.

There will be critters. Mostly squirrels (and they are just darn cute) but look out the window and you will see deer walk past, raccoons, lots of birds, and...well, sometimes bears. And rattlesnakes. And scorpions. Yellow jackets and wasps. And did I mention spiders?

Q?

Do you allow pets?

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Yes! Please bring your well-behaved pets with you! Our furry four-legged family members always travel with us, too. There is no fenced yard, so you'll need to go with your pet outside for bathroom breaks. Bring their bedding, bowls, etc. with you so your pet is comfortable. And please, bring no fleas or other tiny pests! Of course, as the responsible humans that you are, you are financially responsible for any damage caused by your pets.

Dogs at the cabin!

Q?

Help! Wi-Fi is not working!

A.

Wi-fi is available throughout the house. There is no password so it is easy to hook up all of your devices. However, lack of security means you need to be secure in your devices when you do banking, etc. (though it is fairly easy to see if anyone is in range of the wi-fi, the house is in the woods!) It is DSL through the phone company. If the wi-fi is down for any reason, there are two places in the house that you might reset: 1. the modem is downstairs, on a high shelf above the bed on the back wall of the Queen's bedroom. It can be turned off, then on again to recycle (easiest to just unplug the power, count to five, plug it in again.) 2. Upstairs, in the den, there is a wireless hub. Unplug, count to five, plug in again. Normally this takes care of any problems. If problems persist, you can call K&K and they can contact the phone company. Our phone number at the house is 559-841-2885. The DSL is through Ponderosa Phone, and the Internet tech support line is 800-903-1444.

Q?

Do you have a BBQ?

A.

Yes.

There is a Weber stainless steel Genesis S-330 and we provide the fuel. It has 507-square-inches primary cooking area and 130-square-inches warming rack and is 38,000 BTU. So bring those steaks with you!

Please do clean it when done and leave it as you would like to find it.

How to clean--here is a video, or, if you prefer, written instructions (below):

Every time you grill:

Clean the cooking grate. Before or after grilling, burn off any residue by simply turning the grill on high until the smoke stops, then brush the cooking grates with a brass wire grill brush. Easy!

As needed:

Change the Catch Pan Liner. Regularly changing the liner also discourages animals from visiting your grill for a midnight snack.

Remove smoke stains from the grill lid and side burner cover. Use only warm, soapy water and a sponge or dishcloth (even fine steel wool will scratch it.) Clean the Flavorizer Bars. You really don’t ever need to remove the Flavorizer Bars from your grill to clean them, since preheating the grill and burning off residue by turning the grill on "high" is enough to turn any accumulated debris to ashes. Occasionally brushing the bars off with a brass grill brush or scraping them with a nylon, plastic or Teflon-putty knife should be sufficient maintenance. Just be careful not to gouge the porcelain-enamel finish.

Clean the outside of the endcaps and cookbox. You should clean up grease drippings on these exterior surfaces as soon as possible. Use mild, soapy water and rinse thoroughly.

Clean the bottom tray. Remove the cool (never hot!) bottom tray from under the grill and place over a trash can. Carefully scrape the inside with a 1" putty knife or other straight, flat object. Push the residue out through the bottom hole into the trash can. To deep clean the tray, use warm, soapy water and a soapy, fine steel wool pad, being careful not to scratch the porcelain finish. (NEVER line the bottom tray with foil, as grease can accumulate in the creases in the foil and cause a grease fire.)